hoskins



(No Mod'el.) 2Sheetns--Sheetv 2. S. A. HOSKIN'S."

LUNGH B0X.

No. 244,898. Patented July 26, 1881.

l' I WITNESSES l v w g' 4 BI/dttorneys N, PETERS. Pmmlhnognpher. wznlunglmnc.

f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SARAH f A. HosKINs,

OF BANGOR, MAINE.

LUNCH-B0X.

srncIFrcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,898, dated .my 2e, 1881.

Application ined May 9,1381. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known thatI, SARAH A. Hosxnvs, of

Bangor, in the county of Penobscot and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Luncheon-Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accom panyin g drawings, which form a and in which- Figure l is a perspective view ot the box withthe cover or lid opened and one-half of the folding table extended. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section, showing the cover open and the folding table extended to its full capacity. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the box with the lid closed; and Fig. 4 is a side view of the folding salver open, the dotted lines showing it in its closed position.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures.

My invention contemplates certain improvements in luncheon-boxes suitable for the use of travelers, camp-meetings, or excursionists, so arranged as to contain all the requisites and paraphernalia of a first-class luncheon compactly in a small space,the several articles being so disposed that access may be easily had to any one of them when desired for use. I also provide the box with a table, the leaves of which are hinged and provided with folding legs, so as to adaptitto be folded up within a small compass and slid into a compart-` ment provided for it in the box, all substantially as hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying illustrationsof my invention I have shown one of my large-size boxes, which is particularly adapted to the use of overland travelersto California, campmeetings, or fishing-parties, as it will contain Afrom thirty five to forty pounds of food. Smaller sizes are made on the same general plan, but diEering somewhat in the location and relative arrangement of the several compartments, and for the larger sizes it may sometimes be. found desirable to cover the box with canvas, leather, or wicker-Work, espe cially if itis to be subjected to rough usage,

In the drawings, A represents a box of rectpart of this specication,

`and forks, a can-opener, cruets of mustard,

salt, and pepper, folded napkins, and other requisites, if desired.

The body of the box is divided, first, by a longitudinal partit-ion, B, into two compartments, B and B2, thelast-named one of which is again subdivided by lower transverse partitions,(} and D, into three compartments, denoted, respectively, by U', C2, and C3, the middle one of which, C2, is divided by the longitudinal partition E, so as to form a smaller compartment, E. The end compartment, C3, and middle compartment, C2, .have cleats, (shown at c 0,) which formledges or supports for', respectively, the bread-box F and the cakebox G. The inner corner and ed ges of the latter are cut oft` a little from the top, so as to make room for the pie-plate H, which is set on top of the cake-box and overlaps the compartment C. This compartment contains a sugar-box, I, pickle or olive jar K, and aplace for cups or tumblers, L. It also has, at its upper edge, an inwardly-projecting lip or bracket, d, which forms a support for the rim of the pie-plate H, preventing'it from tipping down. The space'in the middle compartment, G2, underneath the cake-box, is for meats, the sub-compartment E for canned goods and bottles, (the cans being arranged on top of one another between the bottles,) and the end com partment, C3, contains an egg-box, M, a butter-box, N, and space between the two for boxes of sardines or other articles, according IOO gether at h, so that they maybe folded up upon one another. The inner end of the inner leaf,

, Q, is turned to form a roll or bead, i, through which rod P is inserted, thus forming a hinge for the folding leaves, which, when doubled upon one another, may be swung up into a vertical position and slid down into the compartment or receptacle B', the inner leaf, Q, passing between its hinge-rod P and guide P', as shown in Fig. 2 in dottedlines.

Each of the leaves Q and Q' is provided with a pair of hinged legs or supports, R R', which cross one another, one of each pair of legs having a slot, fr, and the othera set-screw, s, working in the slot, by means of which they may be locked so as to form aiirm support for the tablewhen extended. The innermost pair of legs, R, which are hinged to the inner leaf, Q, rest with their lower ends upon slides S S, which, when the table is not in use, may be pushed back into tubular cleats or sockets T T, secured upon the bottom of the box. Each of these slides S has an upturned lip, t, at its outer end, back of which is a small recess or depression for the legs to rest in.

This arrangement will be found particularly useful in railway-cars, as it keeps the legs of the innerleaf steady, with the outer leaf folded up upon it, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. \Vhen theboxis packed andthetable folded and slid down into its propercompartment, B', there is room on one side of the table for the plates, and on the other side for a waiter or salver, thus economizing the space. The slides S are prevented from slipping outfrom their sockets T by hinged stops U, which may be turned down over the projecting lips t.

Having thus described 1nyinvention,1claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesy l. The combination, with a luncheon-box constructed and arranged substantially as described, of the hinged and folding table Q Q', each leaf of which has a pair of hinged legs or supports, R and R', crossing one another, slotted at r, and having setscrews s working in said slots, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein shown and set forth.

2. The combination, with the box A, having extensible slides S, of the hinged folding table Q Q', having hinged and adjustable legs R and 1t', slotted at r, and provided with setscrews s, substantially as set forth.

3. A folding table composed of the hinged leaves Q and Q', adapted to fold upon one another, each leaf being provided with a pair of hinged legs or supports, R R R 1t', having slots r and set-screws s, constructed and combined to operate substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein shown and specied.

4. The folding salver O, hinged at g and provided on its under side with the pivoted lugs ff, for locking it into its extended position, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 1n y own l have hereunto affixed my si gnature in presence of two witnesses.

SARAH A. HOSKINS.

Witnesses WILLIAM H. MoCULLIs, PELEG T. J oNEs. 

